In Brief

Partially abandoning the easily embraceable sound he incorporated on recordings with the Fugees and Wyclef Jean, Forte includes some tracks with morbid story lines on his debut album. When creating potential pop tunes, Forte excels with light-hearted subject matter and instrumentation. However, when the Brooklyn native shifts to gritty themes and backdrops, his appeal diminishes rapidly. Fortunately, his softer selections redeem this album.